Ulster boost as key duo ready for battle

BJ BOTHA and Ian Humphreys could not have staged a more appropriate return to the Ulster starting lineout when they face the Scarlets at Ravenhill tonight.

Springbok tight-head Botha has been sidelined since January following surgery for an elbow injury while Humphreys missed the last three games due to a hamstring problem.

Both will get a vital run-out prior to next week’s Heineken Cup quarter-final tie against Northampton in a team with six changes and two positional switches from last week’s narrow squeak against Glasgow.

Also back in the fray is skipper Rory Best, who knows that Ulster are now at the business end of the season and the province still has everything to play for.

“The Scarlets are a very good team and they see this as their last chance to have a say in the Magners League,” said Best.

“They are coming here looking for a win to keep them in the hunt. They like to play rugby rather than just grind out a win and that makes them very dangerous. We have belief in what we are doing. In the past, there was hope — probably more blind hope — but over the last 18 months, we feel it is going the right way.

“You take the close games we have had, particularly winning games at the death. We want that to continue, that stance, never, ever giving up. We know that some results have not been pretty, but two or three years ago, maybe even last season, we would have lost the games we are winning in the closing stage.

“Given where we are at the minute it would be a real shame if we did not crack on and get the win we need that would put us on the brink of finishing in the top four.”

Also returning to action is Ireland wing Andrew Trimble who replaces Conor Gaston while Simon Danielli moves to the left wing in place of Craig Gilroy, with Adam D’Arcy returning to full-back.

Willie Faloon gets back his open-side flanker’s role with Chris Henry rested after non-stop involvement since Christmas.

ULSTER: A D’Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, P Wallace, S Danielli; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, R Best, capt, BJ Botha, J Muller, D Tuohy, R Diack, W Faloon, P Wannenburg.

Replacements: A Kyriacou, P McAllister, D Fitzpatrick, T Barker, C Henry, P Marshall, I Whitten, C Gilroy.

SCARLETS (v Ulster): R Priestland, G Maule, R King, J Davies, M Stoddart, S Jones, T Knoyle; I Thomas, M Rees (c), R Thomas, L Reed, R McCusker, J Turnbull, J Edwards, B Morgan.

Replacements: E Phillips, R Jones, P Edwards, A Shingler, D Lyons, M Roberts, D Evans, S Williams.